STAR WHEEL RELEASING MECHANISM OF PRINTING APPARATUS
A star wheel releasing mechanism for a printing apparatus is described. The star wheel releasing mechanism comprises a base, the exit wheels disposed at the base, a star wheel module, a pair of supporting plates and a front cover. The base includes a first side and a second side. The star wheel module having a plurality of star wheels is movably disposed on the base. The supporting plates are oppositely disposed at the first side and the second side of the base. Each supporting plate has an arc slot. Two ends of the star wheel module are respectively slidable within the arc slots of two supporting plates. The front cover pivoted on the supporting plates and connected to the star wheel module is movable between a first position and a second position.
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This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 094113553, filed Apr. 27, 2005, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a star wheel releasing mechanism, and more particularly, to a star wheel releasing mechanism installed in a printing apparatus for increasing a space which is used for changing an ink cartridge and eliminating the problem of paper jam.
2. Description of the Related Art
A top-flip-cover design is widely used in a current printer, or a current multi-function peripheral (MFP) that includes the functions of copying, scanning, faxing, and printing, etc. The top-flip-cover design is good for changing an ink cartridge disposed in the printing apparatus or the multi-function peripheral (MFP). Please refer to
To overcome the above problems, a non-flip-cover design is provided instead of the above-mentioned top-flip-cover design. However, the non-flip-cover design is very inconvenient for changing the ink cartridge and other components inside the multi-function peripheral. Reference is made to
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a star wheel releasing mechanism installed in a printing apparatus. A star wheel module of the star wheel releasing mechanism could be moved forward and downward in linkage with a front cover, so that increasing a space used for changing an ink cartridge and eliminating the paper jam.
According to the aforementioned aspect of the present invention, a star wheel releasing mechanism is provided, which is installed in a printing apparatus. The star wheel releasing mechanism comprises: a base; a plurality of exit wheels; a star wheel module; a pair of supporting plates; and a front cover. The base includes a first side and a second side. The exit wheels are disposed on the base. The star wheel module having a first end and a second end is movably disposed on the base, and includes a plurality of star wheels, whose positions correspond to the positions of the exit wheels. The pair of supporting plates are disposed respectively on the first side and the second side of the base. Each of the supporting plates includes an arc slot, wherein the first end and the second end of the star wheel module are respectively slidable within the arc slots. The front cover pivoted on the supporting plates and connected with the star wheel module is movable between a first position and a second position.
When the front cover is on the first position (in a closed state), the star wheels are locked with the corresponding exit wheels. When the front cover is transferred from the first position to the second position (in an opened state), the star wheel module moves in linkage with the front cover, and the star wheels are separated from the exit wheels.
According to the aforementioned aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatus is provided. The printing apparatus comprises a printing carriage and a star wheel releasing mechanism. The star wheel releasing mechanism connecting the printing carriage comprises: a base; a plurality of exit wheels; a star wheel module; a pair of supporting plates; and a front cover. The base includes a first side and a second side. The exit wheels are disposed on the base. The star wheel module having a first end and a second end is movably disposed on the base, and includes a plurality of star wheels, whose positions correspond to the positions of the exit wheels. The pair of supporting plates are disposed respectively on the first side and the second side of the base. Each of the supporting plates includes an arc slot, wherein the first end and the second end of the star wheel module are respectively slidable within the arc slots. The front cover pivoted on the supporting plates and connected to the star wheel module is movable between a first position and a second position.
When the front cover is on the first position (in a closed state), the star wheels are locked with the corresponding exit wheels. When the front cover is transferred from the first position to the second position (in an opened state), the star wheel module moves in linkage with the front cover, and the star wheels are separated from the exit wheels. Furthermore, when the front cover is positioned on the second position (in the opened state), the horizontal height of the star wheels is lower than the horizontal height of the printing carriage, for increasing a space used for changing an ink cartridge and eliminating the paper jam.
The printing apparatus further comprises an output tray, which is rotatably connected with a front side of the printing apparatus, and is disposed outside the front cover for carrying an output paper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein.
The present invention provides a star wheel releasing mechanism installed in a printing apparatus. When a front cover of the printing apparatus is pulled down, a star wheel module is moved in linkage forward and downward, so that more space is provided for user to change an ink cartridge or resolve the paper jam problem. After operating, the front cover is closed and the star wheel module is moved back to the original position, the printing function of the printing apparatus can still process without interruption.
The star wheel releasing mechanism of the present invention could be applied to any kind of printing apparatus, such as a printer, or a multi-function peripheral (MFP) which includes the functions of copying, scanning, faxing, and printing, etc. The following embodiment of the present invention is illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. Also, a top cover of the present printing apparatus is not shown in all of the Figures for illustrating the inside components of the printing apparatus clearly.
Reference is made to
Reference is made to both
According to
When the front cover 304 is transferred from the first position (the closed state) to the second position (that is, the front cover 304 is in an opened state), the star wheel module 310 is moved simultaneously. The first end 303 and the second end (not shown) of the star wheel module 310 are respectively slidable within the arc slots 314, so that the star wheels 340 could be separated from the exit wheels 360. Further referring to
According to the present invention, the star wheel releasing mechanism further comprises a fixing device disposed on any supporting plate to hold the front cover 304. When the front cover 304 is on the first position (in the closed state), the fixing device is used for fixing the front cover 304 on the first position. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing device further includes a dot and a pulling force generator, which works for fixing the front cover 304 on the first position when the front cover 304 is closed. As shown in
After changing the ink cartridge and eliminating the paper jam, the front cover 304 is closed. The front cover 304 could be manually closed by the user, or closed by resilient force provided by the compressed spring 318, which could pull the front cover 304 from the second position to the first position.
Furthermore, the maximum angle A that the front cover 304 could be pulled down (that is, the opening angle of the front cover 304), is determined by the length and position of the arc slot 314 and supporting plates 312. For example, as shown in
Therefore, according to the aforementioned preferred embodiments, one advantage of the star wheel releasing mechanism of the present invention is that the horizontal height of star wheel module 310 could be adapted to be lower than the printing carriage 350 by moving the front cover 304, so that the operating space for changing an ink cartridge or eliminating paper jam increases. Furthermore, there is no additional component required for changing the positions of the star wheel module 310. The manufacturing cost is accordingly reduced.
As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.
Claims
1. A star wheel releasing mechanism, installed in a printing apparatus, comprising:
- a base including a first side and a second side;
- a plurality of exit wheels, disposed on the base;
- a star wheel module having a first end and a second end, movably disposed on the base, the star wheel module including a plurality of star wheels, whose positions correspond to the positions of the exit wheels;
- a pair of supporting plates, disposed respectively on the first side and the second side of the base, each of the supporting plates including an arc slot, wherein the first end and the second end of the star wheel module are respectively slidable in the arc slots; and
- a front cover, pivoted on the supporting plates and connected with the star wheel module, the front cover movable between a first position and a second position;
- wherein when the front cover is on the first position, the star wheels are locked with the corresponding exit wheels, and when the front cover is transferred from the first position to the second position, the star wheel module moves in linkage, and the star wheels are separated from the exit wheels.
2. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing device disposed on any supporting plate to hold the front cover when the front cover is on the first position.
3. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device includes a dot.
4. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the fixing device includes a pulling force generator, connecting both the first end of the star wheel module, and the supporting plates near the first end.
5. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the pulling force generator is a compressed spring.
6. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pair of supporting plates and the base are formed in integrity.
7. The star wheel releasing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by an angle, which is smaller than or equal to 180 degrees.
8. A printing apparatus with a star wheel releasing mechanism, comprising:
- a printing carriage; and
- a star wheel releasing mechanism, connecting the printing carriage, comprising: a base including a first side and a second side; a plurality of exit wheels, disposed on the base; a star wheel module having a first end and a second end, movably disposed on the base, the star wheel module including a plurality of star wheels, whose positions correspond to the positions of the exit wheels; a pair of supporting plates, disposed respectively on the first side and the second side of the base, each of the supporting plates including an arc slot, wherein the first end and the second end of the star wheel module are respectively slidable in the arc slots; and
- a front cover, pivoted on the supporting plates and connected the star wheel module, the front cover movable between a first position and a second position; wherein when the front cover is on the first position, the star wheels are locked with the corresponding exit wheels, and when the front cover is transferred from the first position to the second position, the star wheel module moves in linkage, and the star wheels are separated from the exit wheels.
9. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein further comprising a fixing device disposed on any supporting plate to hold the front cover when the front cover is on the first position.
10. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fixing device includes a dot, disposed on the supporting plates.
11. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the fixing device includes a pulling force generator, connecting both the first end of the star wheel module, and the supporting plates near the first end.
12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pulling force generator is a compressed spring.
13. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pair of supporting plates and the base are formed in integrity.
14. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first position and the second position are separated by an angle, which is smaller than or equal to 180 degrees.
15. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the front cover is on the second position, the printing carriage is higher than the star wheel module.
16. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the printing carriage is higher than the star wheels.
17. The printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising an output tray rotatably connected with a front side of the printing apparatus and is disposed outside the front cover for carrying an output paper.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 2, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7641331
Applicant: BENQ CORPORATION (Taoyuan Hsiang)
Inventor: Chih-Ren Chen (Kaohsiung City)
Application Number: 11/380,678
International Classification: B41J 29/00 (20060101); B41J 2/01 (20060101); B41J 13/02 (20060101);